Introduction to the Catherine Hershey Schools Professional Resources Blog
Welcome to the Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning (CHS) Professional Resources blog, a place where we can share insights on early childhood education topics, resources that you can utilize in your profession, and continue to generate important conversations as we work toward our shared goal of improving outcomes for children and families everywhere.
If you are not familiar with CHS, we are a subsidiary of Milton Hershey School (MHS) and are part of an initiative to initially develop six Early Childhood Education Centers in Pennsylvania. With the same excellence displayed by MHS since 1909, CHS expands the legacy of Milton and Catherine Hershey by helping even more children in need. Our Centers will provide nonresidential, weekday care, and education to children six weeks to age 5, with all costs covered for qualifying families. An added element is a two-generation approach that supports the families of our enrolled children through integrated services so that the children can succeed both at school and at home.
As we continue to bring to life our mission, this blog will allow our team of experts and leaders, as well as other contributors including highly respected professionals in the ECE community, to encourage conversation around the latest research on child development and classroom tips and tricks to aid in educational, social, emotional, and cognitive development. This blend of thought leadership and practical everyday skills will offer helpful information, new tools, and resources. Some of the topics we will feature include:
- The Whole Child
- The Two-Generation Approach
- Instruction and Leadership
- Nutrition
- Trauma and Child Development
- Building Preliteracy Skills
- Social Workers and Early Intervention
Whether we are looking at the big, overarching issues such as public policy or highlighting crucial research that challenges us to think differently, we want to share knowledge with educators, leaders, social workers, health care providers, and others working to transform the lives of children by providing them with the foundation for lifelong success.
There is growing awareness that early childhood education paves the way for the road through K-12 and throughout life. What children learn in their first few years of life—and how they learn it—significantly impacts brain development and can have long-lasting effects on their success and health as children, teens, and adults. There are challenges to providing quality, affordable ECE due to perceptions of low pay, burnout, and staffing shortages, to name a few.
By working together and collaborating by sharing insights, we can change the trajectory for children and their families.
Welcome! We hope you are looking forward to what is to come as much as we are. Stay in touch by subscribing to our newsletter to receive updates regarding developments at CHS and highlights from our Professional Resources blog.
Unseen Supports in ECE: Critical in Creating Safe and Nurturing Environments
By Kristen Zell, School Operations Manager at Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning, Middletown When we think about Early Childhood Education (ECE), our minds are drawn toward the welcoming classrooms,.....
Meeting Families Where They Are: Strategies for Home Visiting
By Lindsay Knepp, Family Partnership Manager at Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning For those of us who work in early childhood education, the practice of home visiting has emerged.....
Mitigating Adverse Childhood Experiences in the Early Learning Classroom
By Dr. Rebekah Benedum (Ed.D), Senior Director of Programs at Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning When children come into an early learning setting for the first time, it can.....
The Importance of Social Emotional Learning in ECE
By Jessica Knaub, Center Director at Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning, Middletown I’ve spent most of my career working in early childhood education, and of course, that means you.....
